Bobbin holder



0a. 7, 1941. A. L. SCHOELLES 2,258,166

BOBBIN HOLDER Filed May 20, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 7, 1941. 1 SCHOELLES 2,258,166

BOBBIN HOLDER Filed May 20, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FKQQ. x0 1% INVENTOR Artgl urLfichoefles,

ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 7, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOBBIN HOLDER Arthur L. Schoelles, Newfane, N. Y. Application May 20, 1941, Serial No. 394,334

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improved means for winding yarn on other threads and particularly to means for retaining the end of such yarn or thread between successive winding operations.

In the winding of threads, asfor instance yarn, into cops or onto bobbins or other spools, a particular problem is encountered in arranging the breaking of the yarn or thread after a bobbin, spool or cop is wound and particularly in conveniently dealing with the remaining broken yarn or thread whereby it may be so guided as to begin another winding operation.

My present invention has especially useful apappended in the position illustrated in Fig.1;

plication in the winding of bobbins of yarn or the like from spinning mules and will be described in connection therewith by way of example, although obviously the use of my improved means wherever the principles underlying the invention have application is contemplated in the scope of my invention.

Speaking generally, the improved windingad-- the field of spinning mules and particularly to the bobbin winding operation thereof, successive bobbins are placed upon a winding spindle with which there is conventionally associated a bobbin holder for retaining an end of the bobbin in assembled association with the winding spindle against axial displacement. According to my invention such bobbin holder is preferably ar-' ranged to perform the function of holding a yarn end between successive winding operations and in the preferred form illustrated in the drawings the entire bobbin holder and yarn end retaining means as well as the actuating elements for such retaining means, comprise a self-contained unit arranged to perform its several fun tions with a minimum of attention by the operator and in an efficient and fool-proof manner.

Many advantages attendant upon the use of my invention will occur to those skilled in the art from a perusal of the ensuing description of an exemplary embodiment thereof, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. While a complete and workable device is set forth herein by way of example, it is to be understood that the scope of my invention is not limited thereto 55 Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but withthe parts of the bobbin holder in a different operating position; i

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken approximately on the line IV-IV of Fig. 2 and looking upward;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the bobbin holder with parts thereof broken away for added clearness;

and

V Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view taken approximately on the line VI-VI of Fig. 5 with parts removed to show the details of the bobbin-gripping fingers.

In the drawings like characters of reference denote like parts throughout the several figures and the numeral l0 designates a bobbin winding spindle which is of the kind conventionally as sociated with spinning mules. InFig.,1 a pulley II is shown, by means of which the spindle may be rotated to wind a bobbin. The means for positioning the'spindle ID for rotation in association with the spinning mule is conventional and is not illustrated herein. j

The bobbin itself is J designated I3 and comprises an elongate shank portion and an enlargement [5 at the lower end thereof. 'I'heenlarge- 'ment l 5 cooperates to provide limiting means for the winding of yarn upon the shank 13 of the bobbin at one end thereof and further cooperates with a bobbin holder, designated generally IS in the drawings, to control certain functions of the bobbin holder. The bobbin I3, adjacent theend having the enlargement I5, is provided with an F axial opening whereby it may be disposed over the upper end of the spindle Ill.

The bobbin holder l6 has a central sleeve element ll which, in a preferred form, is pressed upon the spindle l0 but may be in the nature of an integral enlargement thereof. The sleeve H has its op osite ends threaded, the lower threaded end receiving a nut l9, Disposed upon the nut I9 is a collar 20 andabove the collar 20 a flanged Above the flanged collar it. as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3, the sleeve an enlarged intermediate portion 23. The nut I9 secures the collars 20 and 2| rigidly against the lower face of the enlargement 23. Adjacent the opposite threaded end of the sleeve ll there is provided a square or other non-circular portion 25.

The rigid relatively immovable portion of the structure is completed by the provision of a pair of disc elements 30 and 3| which are juxtaposed and have central openings corresponding in shape to the outline of the non-circular portion 25, whereby when they are placed over said portion they are held against rotation. The nut 26, in the form illustrated, is circular, so that it engages the upper disc 30 to securely lock both discs 30 and 3! in place. The lower disc 3| is U-shaped cross section whereby an annular pocket 33 is provided in cooperation with the marginal portion of the adjacent upper disc 30.

The upper disc 30 has a plurality of arcuately extending notches at its periphery for receiving the lower portionsof a plurality of fingers 35. The fingers 35 are reduced in width where they engage in the peripheral notches, such reduction in width providing outwardly directed ears 36 at their lower terminal portions which engage in the annular pocket 33 and prevent removal of the fingers 35 when the disc 30 is assembled within the annular flange of the disc 3|. The arcuate notches in the disc 30 which receive the fingers 35 are so formed as to permit limited pivotal movement of the fingers 35 whereby their upper ends'may move toward and away from the axis of rotation of the device..--The fingers 35 are normally urged resiliently toward such axis by an encircling coil spring 31 which is provided with enough initial tension for this-purpose. The upper portions of the fingers 35 may be inwardly formed as at 38 for seating the spring 31 and for serving as a resilient detent as will presently appear.

Apart from rotation of the entire device in winding a bobbin, the only part of my improved bobbin holder, in the exemplary form illustrated in the drawings, which is rotatable relative to the remaining bobbin holder structure, is an annular sleeve 40 whose lower end rests upon the collar and has rotatable bearing about the periphery of the flanged collar 2|. The upper end of the sleeve 40 has an annular enlargement 4| which engages about the peripheral flange of the disc element 3| and forms an upper bearing for the sleeve 40.

A collar 44 is disposed about the sleeve 40 but is fixed against rotation with respect to the bobbin holder proper by virtue of connection with a collar 46 which is disposed within the sleeve 40 and has inwardly projecting ears 4'! for engagement in key seats formed in the sleeve H, the collar 43 being free to move axially with respect to the sleeve 11. The collar 46 may be provided with a pair of marginal ears 48 which, in the illustrated instance, receive the inner threaded ends of set screws 50 which pass through openings in the wall of the collar 44 and restrain the latter against relative rotation with respect to the collar 46.

Relative rotation of the sleeve 40 with respect to the collar 44 and the collar 46 is arranged for An upper bobbin seat plate 53 is provided and it is desired that this plate be fixed relative to the collar 46. To this end a pair of substantially vertically extending arms 54 connect between the collar 46 and the seat plate 53. The arms 54 may be formed integrally with the plate 53 or they may be welded thereto or otherwise rigidly associated. To facilitate assembly the lower ends of the arms 54 are reduced in width whereby the reduced portion is adapted, in assembly, to be passed through suitable openings in the collar 46 and have their lower projecting terminal portions bent laterally to prevent disengagement, The disc elements 30 and 3| are provided with apertures 55 to permit free passage of the arms 54 therethrough.

A further pair of gripping fingers 60 are provided and for convenience this pair of fingers is preferably disposed in staggered relation between the arms 54. The gripping fingers 60 also have reduced lower ends for extending through openings in the collar 46 and are likewise bent at their lower terminal portions to prevent disassembly. The fingers 60, however, are arranged to have play connection with the collar 46 whereby their upper ends may move toward and away from the axis of rotation of the bobbin winding means as in the case of the fingers 35, and the fingers 60 have peripherally extending depressions 64 formed therein which are complementary to the formations 38 of the arms 35.

When the parts are in the position illustrated in Fig 2, the depressions 38 and 64 of arms 35 and 60, respectively, are in detaining engagement under the resilient urge of the coil spring 31 and by reason of the presence of the end l5 of the bobbin I3 therebetween. The presence of the bobbin between the gripping fingers spreads them sufliciently to give the spring 31 enough tension to insure against unintended disengagement of the detent. In this condition of the parts a torsion spring 68 connecting between the flanged collar 2| and the wall of the sleeve tends to rotate the latter in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from above, such rotation being prevented by the detent or depressions 38, 64, as will now appear.

The slots in the sleeve 40 for receiving the intermediate portions of the screws 50, which have previously been generally alluded to, are best indicated at 10 in Fig. l and are seen to be substantially helical in their extent. From the nature and disposition of the slots 70, there being one for each screw 50, it will be seen that release of the sleeve 40 for counterclockwise rotation under the impetus of the torsion spring 68 will simultaneously impart an upward axial movement to the collars 46 and 44 through camming engagement between the walls of the'slots 10 and the screws 50. Such-upward axial movement brings the collars 44 and 46 and the bobbin seat plate 53 to the position illustrated in Fig. 3 and is accomplished by forcible withdrawal of the bobbin end [5 from between the arms 35 and 60 against the resistance of the encircling spring 31.

It will be noted that the bobbin end I 5 has a circumferential groove 14 for cooperation with the detent portions of the arms 35 and 60.

From the foregoing explanation it will be seen that the parts are held in the position of Fig. 2, against the urge of the torsion spring 68, by engagement of the bottom of the portion I5 of the bobbin l3 against the upper surface of the bobbin seat plate 53,

The collar 44 has an outwardly extending flange 18 which has a plurality of circumferential notches l9 and a somewhat similar cooperating flange formed on the sleeve has a plurality of notches which form fingers 80. The fingers 80 are angularly diverted in the direction of rotation of the sleeve 40 for a purpose which wil presently appear.

When a bobbin winding operation is completed,

drop wire or thread guide 85 moves automatically and in a conventional manner to bring the yarn or thread 86 downwardly below the bobbin and to substantially the position indicated in Fig. 1. At this time the operator grasps the bobbin and forcibly withdraws it from the bobbin holder. Such withdrawal results in immediate movement of the parts to the position shown in Fig. 3 and this movement brings the notched flange '18 up to engagement with the fingers 80 of the sleeve 40.

Simultaneously with this axial movement the sleeve 40 is partially rotated and such rotation, by virtue of the angular disposition of the fingers 80, results in the thread or yarn 86 being pulled into the space between a pair of fingers 80 and causes a portion of the thread 86 to extend in a circumferential direction whereby it is engaged between one or more fingers 80 and portions of the flange 18.

Further withdrawing movement o'fthe bobbin by the operator results in breaking of the yarn or thread above the point at which it is gripped between the flange l8 and the fingers 80. Subsequent to such removal the remaining end of the yarn 86 continues to be securely gripped, whereby thedrop wire or thread guide 85 may direct further yarn or thread from the spinning mule about a succeeding bobbin without danger of the thread or yarn disengaging from the thread guide 85.

When it is desired to begin the winding of a succeeding bobbin, the bobbin is not immediately assembled with the bobbin holder to the position of Fig. 2 since such immediate assembly would release the end of the yarn from between the flange 18 and the fingers 80. Upon initial insertion of a succeeding bobbin such bobbin is inserted between the projecting fingers 60 only, as shown in Fig, 3. With the parts in this position the drop wire or thread guide 85 automatically directs the yarn from the spinning mule in such manner as to cause it to begin to be wound upon the rotating bobbin l3.

After such winding has continued for a time sufiicient to insure adequate engagement of the yarn about the bobbin, which may be half a dozen or a dozen revolutions, or as many as are required to safeguard against slipping of the yarn on the bobbin, the bobbin is moved further downwardly by the operator to the position of Fig. 2 which causes separation of the flange 18 and the fingers 80 and movement 'of the parts of the device back to the position shownin Fig. 2, whereupon it is in condition to perform a succeeding yarn end gripping function upon completion of winding of the succeeding bobbin.

What is claimed is:

1. In a bobbin holder, means associated therewith for relative axial movement and means associated therewith against relative axial movement, the two of said means being coaxially arranged, one of said means being relatively rotatable and the other of said means being held against rotation relative to said holder, means rendering said relative rotative movement and said relative axial movement concomitant, and means operable by and upon removal of a bobbin from said holder for effecting such relative axial and rotative movement to move said first two mentioned means to yarn engaging and gripping position.

2. In a bobbin holder, an annular thread clamping element. rotatably associated with said holder for relative rotation with respect thereto and having radially projecting means for engaging a thread and moving the same toward said spindle upon rotation thereof relative to said holder, a second thread clamping element, one of said clamping elements being movable axially to clamping relation with respect to the other, and means operable by and upon removal of a bobbin from said holder to cause rotation of said first annular clamping element relative to said holder and relative axial movement of said clamping elements to clamping position.

3. In a bobbin holder, 2. bobbin holding spindle, an annular thread clamping element rotatably associated with said holder for relative rotation with respect thereto and having radially projecting means for engaging a thread and moving the same toward said spindle upon rotation thereof relative to said holder, a second thread clamping element movable axially to clamping relation with respect to the rotatable clamping element, and means operable by and upon removal of a bobbin from said holder to cause rotation of said first annular clamping element relative to said holder and relative axial movement of said second clamping elements to clamping position.

4. In a bobbin holder, an upper annular thread clamping elementrotatably associated with said holder for relative rotation with respect thereto and having radially projecting means for engaging a thread and moving the same toward said spindle upon rotation thereof relative to said .holder, a lower thread clamping element movable axially upwardly to clamping relation with respect to the other, and means operable by and upon removal of a bobbin from said holder to cause rotation of said upper annular clamping element relative to said holder and upward axial movement of said lower clamping element to clamping position.

5. In a bobbin holder, an annular thread clamping element rotatably associatecbwith said holder for relative rotation with respect thereto and having radially projecting means for engaging a thread and moving the same toward said spindle upon rotation thereof relative to said holder, a second thread clamping element, one of said clamping elements being movable axially to clamping relation with respect to the other, and means operable by and upon removal of a bobbin from said holder to cause relative axial move-' ment of said clamping elements to clamping po-' sition, and cam means acting between said clamping elements to produce relative rotation of said first clamping element upon relative axial movement between said clamping elements.

6. In a bobbin holder, a pair of annular thread clamping elements, one of said elements being movable axially with respect to the other' to clamping and non-clamping positions, resilientmeans normally urging said axially movable element to thread clamping position, a bobbin socketcomprising resilient detent means adapted to'resiliently retain an end of a bobbin in said socket, said socket being movable axially with said axially movable clamping element, whereby said bobbin may be initially resiliently retained in said socket with said clamping elements in thread clamping relation at the beginning of a ment to thread clamping position, a bobbinsocket comprising resilient detent means adapted to resiliently retain an end of a bobbin in said socket, said socket being movable axially with said axially movable clamping element, whereby said bobbin may be initially resiliently retained in said socket with said clamping elements in thread clamping relation at the beginning of a bobbin winding operation and said bobbin socket maybe moved to unclamp said elements during a winding operation by axial manipulation of the bobbin, and resilient detent means for retaining said socket and said axially movable. clamping element respect? ely in clamping and non=clamping positions.

8. In a bobbin'holder, means associated therewith for relative axial movement and other means associated therewith against relative axial movement, the two of said means being coaxially arranged, said first means being held against rotamoval of a bobbin from said spindle for efiecting' such relative axial and rotative movement to move said first two mentioned means to yarn engaging and gripping position.

9. In a bobbin holder, means associated therewith for relative axial movement and other means associated therewith against relative axial movement,- the two of said means being coaxially arranged, said first means being held against rotation relative to said holder and said second means being relatively rotatable with respect to said holder, means rendering said relative rotative movement and said relative axial movement concomitant, a socket for resilient gripping engagement with an end of a bobbin, said socket being fixed axially with respect to said axially movable means whereby the latter may be moved axially by axial manipulation of said bobbin while the latter is resiliently retained in its socket, said first two mentioned means being adapted to be axially moved to and from yarn gripping positions.

ARTHUR L. SCHOELLES.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,258,166. October 7, 19141.

I ARTHUR L. SCHOELLES;

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, first column, line 2, for the word "on" read --or-'; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed andsealed this 11th day of November, A. D. 191;.1.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commis sioner of Patents, 

